Celluloid depicts the life and times of J.C. Daniel (Prithviraj) and his pioneering love for Malayalam cinema. Rosamma, rechristened as Rosie (Chandini), essays the lead role in J.C. Daniel's revolutionary 'motion picture' venture, "Vigathakumaran". He sells everything to make his dream a reality, further borrowing money to meet the expenses. When finally Vigathakumaran is screened at the Capitol Theatre, a 'cinemapura', the upper caste members of the audience create a ruckus over a lower caste girl acting as a Nair lady. Rosie, hunted by the Madambis, leaves the town never to be seen again. Years later, the shriveled, poverty ridden Daniel, with his wife Janet (Mamta Mohandas) by his side, is leading a life far isolated from what he had envisaged. Chelangatt Gopalakrishnan's (Sreenivasan) interest in Daniel's life, his efforts to give him his due and the flashbacks to the incidents in Daniel's life form the rest of the story. (CBFC U/DIL/1/55/2012-ThI)